The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-05-10
AT GETTYSBURG.
Visit Of the Monument Commission to
the Field.
Marking the Spots Where Maine Sol.
dierS Fought.
The Wheat Field, ROand Top, Devils
Den, Peach Orchard.
Maine Veterans Tell the StoryOf The
right.
The Famous Charge Of POrtland's Sew.
enteenth.
Round Top and the TWentieth's Man.
ful Stand.
How Piekett's Line Struck the Nine.
tenth Regiment
The SKteenth's Sacrifice to Save the
Army.
Story Of The First CaValry's Pursuit
Of Lee.
How Piekett's Line Struck the Nine.
teenth Regiment
Story Of The First CaValry's Pursuit
Of Lee.
Correspondence of the PREss.l
BATTLE FIELD OF GETTYSBURG


May 7, 1887.
The Maine Gettysburg Commission, con-
sisting of Gov. Bodwell, Col. Moses
Lakeman of the ID infantry, Col.
Walker of the 4th infantry, Col G.
S. Edwards of the 9TH infantry, Gen. b. T..
Harris of the 9Th Infantry, Gen. Tilden of
the 10th infantry, Major S. C. Belcher of the
10th infantry, Col. G. B. Merrill of the nth
infantry, Gen. Francis E. Heath of the 10Th
infantry. Gen. C. II. Smith of the LIST cavalry,
Gen. J. A. Hall of the I'd battery, Iajor
Stevens Of the 9TH battery, Captain
Dow, of the Sixth Battery, Gen. Charles
rey, and Major Sidney w. Thaxter. of the
LIST cavalry. reached Gettysburg Tuesday
noon. The 7th infantry, 10th battalion, 9th
battery and 10th infantry were not repre-
scented the first day. Gen. Chamberlain,
of the latter regiment, arrived later.
Col. Batchelder, of the Gettysburg Battle
field Memorial Association, by Invitation of
the Governor, joined the commission at Bos-
ton. and proceeded with them.
Immediately on arrival the members of the
commission, under the guidance Of Col.
Batchelder, took carriages, went to- the battle
field and made preliminary survey of the
positions of the different Maine crganiza-
tions. The position of the LIST cavalry being
so far to the right some four miles from the
town, the examination Of that regiment s
position was entrusted to Gen. G. ii. Smith
and Major S. w. Thaxter.
A meeting of the commission was held
Tuesday evening, and an executive commit
tee, consisting Of Gen. Charles Hamlip, Col
G. b. Merrill. Gen. Francis E. Heath, Major
Stevens and Major S. W. Thaxter, was ap-
pointed. 1t was voted that the design of the
monument tor each organization shall be Sc
lected by such organization, that the sum APP
propriated by the State shall be equally di-
yided among the several organizations, and
they be allowed to add thereto such sums as
they may desire, subject to the approval OF
the executive committee; and that the exec
utiye committee be authorized to locate mon
uments for.the 7th, 10th battalion, goth infan-
try, and 9th battery.
A delegation of thirty-fve, including Gov.
Rusk and ex-Gov. Falrchild, Grand Com
mander of the Grand Army Of the Republic,
from Wisconsin, arrived last evening. Gov.
Fairchild was serenaded by the Grand Army
Post.
Wednesday was busy and most inter.
esting day for the Maine Commission. II
company with the Wisconsin Commission,
they left the hotel at an early hour in car
rlages for the scene of the fight of the frs
day. Taking the Chambersburg Pike the,
drove to the Seminary Ridge and turned
into the lane running back of the build
ing. Here, just at the right of the Semi
nary building, Stevens's 9TH Maine Batter,
was stationed about noon Of July LIST
and brayely held its position until the rebe
forces had advanced so far as to almost en-
velope it. While viewing the battlefield
from this point most of the party, including
our worthy Governor, assembled to the towe
Of the Seminary building, from which Gen
erals Buf0rd and Reynolds on the first day
fight reconnoitered the country, and decided
on the general disposition of the troops tina
were now coming up. Turning into road tina
has been laid out since the battle a short dis
lance to the right and parallel with the Cham
bersburg Pike, we drove to the piece of wood
which the Iron Brigade under General Mere
brigade entered on the other. In this piec
of woods fierce fight took place, and larg
part of Archer's brigade was captured Here
too, the gallant Reynolds fell. We examined
the fine monument that has been placed OF
the spot where he fell, and looked for som
evidence of the fierce confiict,th that had take
place there, but all marks Of the conflict
even upon the trees, had been removed b
the effort of nature to heal their-wonnds
The party on foot crossed to the Chambers
burg Pike, and General Hall marked the pc
sition Of his battery which was posted tn
farthest to the front of all our artillery
and briefly recounted the part he took in tn
action-how he came into position on tn
right of the pike, and engaged the guns 0
the enemy posted on ridge about half
mile distant; how, suddenly, as if springin
from the ground, the rebel infantry appeare,
coming from the railroad cut on his immedi
ate right, and forced him to retire, leavin,
behind for time, one gun, the horses o
which had been shot Here stake wa
driven to mark the place of the monumen
for his battery.
After marking the position of Wisconsin
ASeithOhes ehC paiby al piOcteuPQ, by an ave
nue. the battlefield association have laid GU
to the right and rear, to the Mummasbur
road. just at the intersection of these tw
roads the 10th Maine, Colonel Tilden. wa
posted, and an excellent site for the monu
ment Of that regiment was fixed. Then turr
ing towards the city on the Mummasbur
road we drove to the famed Cemetery Hill
and after passing the position occupied b
the 18th Corps. there was halt at Stevens
Knoll, so named from the captain of the st
Maine Battery who held here a most impol
tant position, which is now marked by 81
iron guns on iron carriages, and which wi
next year be further marked by fine NOM
ment. An excellent view of the ground tn
rebels charged over the second days fgl
ON the right is now obtained. The part
here got from their carriages, and al